The journey to the imperial capital, Jinshui City, took three days, the road winding through lush valleys and towering mountains, the air thick with the qi of Hongmeng World. Tian Zun rode at the head of the group, his silver hair catching the sunlight, his golden eyes glinting with a cold, calculating intensity. His Cultivation Rank 6 ki hummed within, the Primordial Chaos Foundation a steady pulse, its silver-black vortex a storm of untamed power. As a Supreme who had lived nine trillion lives, his mind was a fortress of cunning, his schemes a web of ruthless precision. Chen City had been a stepping stone, its resources—Peak Rank pills, weapons, and arrays—insufficient for his growth. Jinshui City, the heart of Jinshui Province, promised the power he needed to ascend further.
Liang Wei rode beside him, his Cultivation Rank 8 peak aura steady, his children Tianyi and Meilin at his side, their small faces bright with excitement. Huo Jin and Huo Mei, the children of the City Lord's second son Huo, followed, their Cultivation Ranks 8 low and 8 mid respectively, their Red Rank bloodlines (Flame Wolf Blood) a flicker of potential. The group was bound for the Martial Academy, a place of immense resources where the City Lord's grandchildren would train—and where Tian Zun would find the means to break through to the next rank.
As they crested a hill, Jinshui City came into view, a sprawling metropolis that took Tian Zun's breath away, even with his eons of experience. The city stretched across a vast plain, its walls of white jade shimmering with protective arrays, its golden spires piercing the sky. Airships powered by Master Rank arrays floated above, their hulls engraved with the crests of the city's powerhouses. The streets teemed with cultivators, their Cultivation Ranks ranging from 8 to 3, their auras a vibrant tapestry of power. At the city's center stood the imperial palace, a fortress of black obsidian, its Cosmic Rank array—a step beyond Master Rank—radiating an aura that could crush a Cultivation Rank 1 master with a thought.
Jinshui City was ruled by a delicate balance of power, its hierarchy a complex web that Tian Zun assessed with a glance. The Royal Family, the Jin Dynasty, held nominal control, their Cultivation Ranks averaging 3, with the Emperor at Cultivation Rank 2 peak, his Innate Rank bloodline (Chaos Dragon Blood) a primordial force. The Five Major Families—the Long, Feng, Shui, Huo, and Xing Clans—were the city's backbone, each with Cultivation Ranks averaging 4 to 3, their bloodlines ranging from Earth to Heaven Rank, and their pavilion skills at Peak to Master Rank. The Pavilions—Alchemy, Weapon, Array, and Bloodline—were centers of innovation, their heads at Cultivation Rank 3, their skills at Master Rank, with rumors of Cosmic Rank techniques in their deepest vaults. But the true power lay with the Martial Academy, an institution of absolute authority, its Grandmaster at Cultivation Rank 1 peak, his Innate Rank bloodline (Primordial Phoenix Blood) and Cosmic Rank array skills making him a force even the Emperor feared.
The group entered the city, the streets a whirlwind of activity—merchants hawking Upper Rank pills, blacksmiths displaying Peak Rank weapons, and array masters etching Master Rank formations on airship hulls. Tian Zun's mind raced, his schemes unfolding as he noted the power dynamics. The Long Clan, known for their Master Rank alchemy, controlled the pill trade, their head Long Wei at Cultivation Rank 3 high with an Earth Rank bloodline (Earth Dragon Blood). The Feng Clan, masters of Master Rank weapons, dominated the forges, their head Feng Lei at Cultivation Rank 3 mid with a Heaven Rank bloodline (Star Phoenix Blood). The Shui Clan, experts in Master Rank arrays, held the city's defenses, their head Shui Yan at Cultivation Rank 3 low with an Earth Rank bloodline (Ocean Serpent Blood). The Huo Clan, focused on Master Rank bloodline awakenings, were the most secretive, their head Huo Chen at Cultivation Rank 3 mid with a Heaven Rank bloodline (Blazing Tiger Blood). The Xing Clan, a wildcard, balanced all pavilions at Peak Rank, their head Xing Bao at Cultivation Rank 3 high with an Earth Rank bloodline (Storm Hawk Blood).
Tian Zun's group reached the Martial Academy, a colossal structure of jade and gold, its gates guarded by Cultivation Rank 4 sentinels, their Master Rank arrays shimmering with power. The academy's courtyard was a training ground, students sparring with Peak Rank weapons, their Cultivation Ranks 7 to 5, their bloodlines ranging from Orange to Earth Rank. The Grandmaster, Master Zhao Tian, observed from a balcony, his Cultivation Rank 1 peak aura a storm that made even Tian Zun take note.
Liang Wei presented the City Lord's letter, and the group was admitted, the children assigned to the academy's novice wing. Tian Zun, however, was granted guest status, his Cultivation Rank 6 and Innate Rank bloodline (Chaos Serpent Blood) earning him respect. As the children settled in, Tian Zun met with Master Zhao Tian, the Grandmaster's piercing gaze assessing him. "You're no ordinary servant," Zhao Tian said, his voice a low rumble. "Your bloodline… it's primordial. Why are you here?"
Tian Zun inclined his head, his elegance a quiet storm. "To grow," he said simply, his tone measured. "Chen City's resources were lacking. I seek the academy's knowledge—and its challenges." Zhao Tian nodded, a faint smile on his lips. "You'll find both here," he said. "But beware—the five families and the royal family play a dangerous game. Choose your allies wisely."
That night, Tian Zun stood on the academy's rooftop, the city's lights a constellation below. The Primordial Chaos Foundation pulsed, the Law of Space having fueled his last breakthrough. He needed a new law for his foundation, one to match the imperial capital's stakes. The Law of Time called to him, a force to bend fate, to slow enemies or hasten his own strikes—a perfect complement to his schemes. A Supreme always sought greater power, and Jinshui City would be his crucible.